Centrifuge



L. L. HUELSDONK Sept. 30, 1952 I CENTRIFUGE 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed March 28, 1949 INVENTQR Z..L..Hueisdanb ATTORNEYS Sept. 30, 1952 1.. HUELSDONK CENTRIFUGE Filed March 28 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 ATTORN EYS Sept. 30, 1952 L. L. HUELSDONK 2,612,314

CENTRIFUGE Filed March 28, 1949 4 SheetsSheet 4 INVENTOR ATTORNEYS Patented Sept. 30, 1952 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE I 2,612,314 CEN TRIFUGE Lewis: L. Huelsdonk, Downieville, Calif.

ApplicationMarch 28, 1949, Serial No. 83,959

.7 class. (01. 2337) This invention is directed to, and it is an object to provide, a novelcentrifuge especially designed, but not limited, for use iii-connection with the, processing of ore when in the formof a water pulp.

Another object of the invention is to provide a centrifuge which is adapted tofunction effectively to condense and control pulp densities; to dewater'or deslime pulps; to classify or thicken pulps; and to act as a centrifugal concentrator without extraneous media.

An additional object of the invention is to provide a centrifuge which is: operative to function with a continuous discharge"; this being especially advantageous in 'theprocessing of ore where large quantities must be handled rapidly to attain economy 'andprofitable returns.

A further object of the invention is to provide a. centrifuge which is characterized by mechanical simplicity, being designed for easeand: economy' of manufacture, and for readymanual control. over all its functions duringclperation.v

. It: is;also an object of theinvention to provide a centrifuge. which includes novel differential drive; mechanism for the: rotary cone andrelatively rotatable feedspiral or spiral conveyor therein.

A separate object of theinvention is. to provide a centrifuge'whichyinc'ludes novel: manually controlled mechanisms tov accomplish adjustment of the overflow spouts. and middlings: spouts while the sametravel' with the rotary cone.

Other advantages are its versatility to differentoperati'ons without many adapters or accessories; its high,- efficiency and low maintenance costs; and its high capacity relative to occupied floor space.

A. stiilfurther object of the invention. is to provide a practical and reliable centrifuge; and one" which will be exceedingly efiective for the purpose. for which it designed.

Theseobjects are accomplished by means. of such structure'and relative arrangement of parts aswill fully appear by a perusal of the: following specification and claims.

In the drawings: Fig. 1 is. a side elevation of the centrifuge; Fig 2 is amainly sectional. elevation of .th

same.

Fig. 3.- is an enlarged sectional elevation. ofthe rotary cone. showing the cooperating working parts. therein; Fig. 4 is; asectional plan O11=1ine54'-F4 Of Fig. 12. Referring now more particularly tOfthE'Ghfl-IEG? tersof reference on the drawings; the-centriiuge 2 is comprised of an upstanding cylindrical housing l of substantial diameter and height, being supported above the floor by relatively 'short, circumferentially spaced legs 2.

The cylindrical housing I includes a bottom plate 3', and is normally closed at its upper end by a removable top plate 4.

An inner cylinder 5 and an intermediate cylinder 6. are disposed in the cylindrical housing I in concentric spaced-apart relation, and with the intermediate cylinder 6 spaced from said housing I, whereby to form a pair of circumferential passages; the inner passage being indicated at 1 andthe outer passage at 8. A discharge spout 9 leads from the lower end of the inner passage l to a discharge point e'xteriorlyof the cylindrical housing I, while another discharge spout I0 leads from thebotto'm. of the outer passage 8 to a discharg point ex'teriorly of the cylindrical housing I, but on the opposite side thereof.

The" cylinders 5 and 6 are of considerably'lesser height than the housing I whereby to form an upper chamber 1Hv in the latter above an anti."-

sp'lash flange l2 mounted in said housing. An

upstanding rotary cone i3 is disposed in the housing I within the inner cylinder 5, being of only slightly greater height; such rotary cone including, at its lower end, a depending tubular discharge spout I4 carried in a. bearing l5v on the bottomplate 3. The rotary'cone l3 includes a head plate [-6 having a central opening defined by 'a bearing collar II.

A. vertical feed tube l8 extends centrally through the top plate 4 and is carried by a bear:- ing [9 thereon; such feed. tube depending from the bearing l9, through the upper chamber H1,

thence through the bearing collar I :1 with a close running fit, and then depending into the rotary cone l3 toa lower endterminationsomedistance above the discharge spout M.

At. is upper end the feed tube I8 includes a feed hopper 2-0 through which the ore pulp is fed into th centrifuge.

Within the rotary cone l3 the feed tube [8. is fitted with a spiral conveyor 2| which has arelatively close running fit within said rotary cone t3; the spiral conveyor extending substantially from top to bottom of said cone, being relatively narrow in width and adapted to turn in the direction' indicatedby the arrow in Fig 3.

In. addition, the. feed tube l8 and spiralconveyor 21 may be fitted, for certain operations, with fins 22 ora counter-spiral agitator 23 (or $1555): tzlgrese parts beingindicated in dotted fines A vertical adjustment rod 24 extends from a point above the housing I downwardly through the feed tube I8 and tubular discharge spout I4 axially thereof; said adjustment rod terminating at its lower end in a taper plug valve 25 which works in cooperation with a seat 26 formed on the lower end of said discharge spout I4. The rod 24 is vertically shiftable, whereby to accomplish adjustment of the plug valve 25, by means of a hand lever 21 pivotally mounted above the housing I on a bracket 28; one end ofsuch hand lever bein coupled by a ball thrust swivel 29 to the rod 24. The hand lever 27 is normally but releasably held in a latched position by meansincluding a notched quadrant 30.

The rod 24 is maintainedin guided relation in the feed tube I8 by spiders 3| whichare slidably splined, as at 32, in connection with the inner wall of said feed tube.

The adjustment rod 24, in addition to serving as the means to set or regulate the plug valve 25,-alsoserves as a means to feed water into the ore pulp in the centrifuge, and this is accomplished as follows: i 1

The rod 24 is hollow, and at its upper end includes a hopper 33, into which water is adapted to be fed. For pressure application the hopper 33 is omitted and a water pressure conduit is connected to the rod 24 by a swivel fitting (not shown);

, Below the'lower end of the feed tube I8 the tubular rod 24 is fitted with laterally extending water jets or nozzle 34 disposed in vertically spaced relation and mounted to discharge in various, directions for the ;purpose of agitating the mass or bedof pulp in the lower portion of the rotary'cone I3. Additionally, the rod 24 is fitted,

' within the discharge spout, with lifter paddles 35 in oircumferentially and vertically spaced relation. I r

If desired, compressed air may be introduced through the'r'od 2.4 and nozzles 34 for the purpose ofv agitation of the material in the rotary cone.

, justment wheel 59.

4 control between the rotary cone I3 and the feed tube I8 which carries the spiral conveyor 2|. In other words, the speed of said feed tube I8 can be varied, selectively, by the simple expedient of altering the speed of motor 45 by any conventional instrumentality.

Closely adjacent the top thereof, and in circumferentially spaced relation, the rotary cone I3 is fitted with a plurality of overflow spouts 41 'whichdischarge, exteriorlyof the cone l3, into sprocket 5| below the corresponding adjustment The rotary cone l3 and feed tube I8 are driven in' the same direction, but at selectively variable relative speeds, by means of the followingdriv'e 1 mechanism:

case' 38 is fixed'to the head plate I6 of the rotary cone I3.. With this arrangement said rotary cone is driven by it'hemotor 36 at a constant speed. 7

Within the case .381 the dififerential 39 includes one end gear 40 affixed to the feed tube' I8, and

the other end gear 4| having an exposed worm gear 42 driven by a worm 43; the latter being actuated by an endless belt and pulley unitM powered by a variable speed'motor 45 on the top plate 4. The end gears 40 and 4| of the difierential 39 are coupled together, within the case 38, byspiderge'ar's46- 3 It will be recognized that when the worm gear 42 is stationary, the differential 39 will impart rotation to the feed tube l8 and its spiral conveyor 2| at the same'speed, and in the same direction, as the rotarycone I3. However, upon powered rotation'of said worm gear 42 by the driving means therefor, including motor 45, a differential speedresults between the rotary cone I3 and the feed tube I8. In this manner the operator can effect a nicety of relative speed wheel 50 and all the said sprockets are interconnected by an endless chain 52. Thus, with turning of one adjustment wheel Blithe others are simultantaneously andcorrespondingly turned.

A plurality of circumferentially spaced middling spouts 53 extend out of the rotary cone I3 adjacent the top thereof, with the outer ends of said spouts 53 in position to discharge into the outer circumferentialpassage 8 which feedslto the discharge spout l0, as previously described. 1

The middling spouts 53 include a horizontal portion which isjournaled, as at 54, in connection with the rotary cone, I3; the inner or intake end of each spout 53 being downturned or generally L-shaped, as at 55; for the purpose of being set to selective pick-up levels by rotation of the corresponding spout 53. 3

Each spout 53 is adapted tobe rotatably adjusted by means comprising a' worm gear 56 fitted on each spout outside its journal 54, each journalbeing attached by a bracket '57 to the headplatelfi;

A worm 58 one vertical stub shaft 59 meshes with each worm gear 56, and above the head platelteach such shaft 59 includes an adjustment wheel 68. A sprocket BI is secured'on each shaft 59 below the adjustment wheel 60 andsaid sprockets are coupled together by an endless chain 62 so that with turnin of one adjustment wheel 60 all are turned in the same direction and to.a corresponding extent, whereby 'to accomplish like adjustment of the middling spouts 53 The adjustment wheel 50 travel in one circumferential path, while theadjustment' wheels 60 travel in another circumferential path, and the following mechanisms are employed tocause -se'- lective adjustment of the wheels 50 or GIL-while the rotary cone [3 is travelingi At one point in their path of circumferential travel, the adjustment wheels 53 pass between a pair of 'arcuate shoes, the inner shoe being indicated at 63 and the outer shoe at 64; said shoes being connected by an upstanding yoke 65'and suspended from a bracket assembly 66' for lateral shifting motion. This lateral shifting motion of theshoes B3 and 64,- as aunit, is accomplished .the adjustment wheels 50 in one direction orthe otherf'as. working conditionsmay require.

The wheels 60 for'the mid'dling spouts 53 are 'regu-l'ate'd by a similar mechanism which includes being suspended from a-bracket assembly [3 acmated by a toggle linkage '14. A 'control rod I5 leads out-of the housing l from the toggle link:-

age 14 and said rod-terminates: outside the housing'in a handle 16. 'By'shifting the control rod 15in one direction or the other, either the inner shoe 10 or outer shoe'll cooperatively engages the adjustment wheelsBll to rotate the middling spouts 53 so as to either raise or lower theiintakes 55.

"-It'will be-recogni-zed,- at-this point, .thatthe operator, by the simple manipulation of the hand lever 21 and the handles 69 and 16, together with the variable speed contr'ol'for the motor 45,5can effectively control the centrifuge action of the machine, and thedischarge therefrom :through the overflow spouts 41, middling spouts 5'3, and lower end discharge spout l4.

When the centrifuge is in operation, ore pulp is fed into the-hopper 20, whence it delivers through the feed tube 18 into the rotary cone I3 for processing, which processingincludes particle segregation under the centrifugal force and settling action of the apparatus. The particles which-are less susceptible to the settling action arecarried upward to themiddling spouts 53 and overflow spouts 41. The relative speeds of rotation, intensity of agitation, gravity of feed, and density of the medium are determining'factors for the overflow product, while-these factors plus the adjustment position of the middling spouts govern the middling product.

Particles most susceptible to the action-are forced to the walls of the cone where they are in turn carried down to the discharge spout M by the spiral conveyor 2|, the relative speed of which is controlled by the variable speed motor 45 in the manner previously described.

The described machine functions effectively as a continuous discharge centrifuge, and may be used to condense and control pulp densities; to dewater and deslime pulp; to classify and thicken pulp; and to act as a centrifugal concentrator whereby heavies from the pulped ore becomes the medium for separation. As a centrifugal concentrator the machine is operative beyond the point of effectiveness of heavy media and sink float processes; 1. e. on minus 4 pulp.

Where desliming is necessary prior to concentration, one of the described centrifuges may be used in preparing the feed for another.

When used as a concentrator the rotary cone I3 is revolved at a speed which moves the heavies outward. The spiral conveyor, with the special fins 22 or agitators 23 if necessary, is set to revolve at a speed so different from that of the rotary cone that a near balance exists between agitation and centrifugal force, allowing the heavier particles to penetrate the more or less heterogeneous mass to a point where the spiral carries them down the wall of the rotary cone I3 to a bed below the feed tube [8 and above the discharge spout I4. The lifter paddles and the water jets 34 help keep the concentrated mass mobile and the interstices between the particles filled with water as a lubricant; thus allowing the lighter particles to move upward through the high density bed where they can join the centrifugally influenced mass of agitated pulp for further segregation and eventual separation. The uppermost water jets 34 which are dual, and which project some distance laterally from the rod 24, act as mechanical agitators water injectingnozzles. 1 The density of the mass, which must be mainas well as tained within specified limits in the rotary cone I 'l3,"is controlledby: a i

('l) 'Adjustmentof the -taper=plug 25 to allow a dense mass of mineral to build up in the rotary cone, or to'drain it to a point-where a small-concentrate bed is maintained, selectively;

K2) By "regulating the relative speeds of rotation, aspreviously described, to control the severityof agitation; and 3 "B'y injecting more'or less waterinto the ni'assithrough the jets'34. v 'Tailings can betaken from both the overflow spouts 41 and middling spouts 51, or middlings can be drawn for regrin'dwhere ore maintains locked values inan in-between or' balanced specific gravity pulp. v

'It'will be recognized from the foregoing that the described centrifuge is of high adaptability to the ore processing operations contemplated herein; the adjustments being simple and readily accomplished, and the machine being' extremely effective and accurate in its operation.

From the foregoing description it will be readily seen-that there has been produced such a device as substantially fulfills the objects of the invention, as set forth herein. v I

While this specificationsets forth in detail the present and preferred construction of the device, still in practice such deviations fromsuch detail may be. resorted to as do not form a; departure from-the spirit of the invention, as defined by the appended claims. I Having thus described the invention, the fol-.-

.lowing is claimed as new and useful, andr-upon which Letters Patent are desired:

1. A centrifuge, for processing ore pulp, comprising a support, an inverted cone rotatably mounted on the support, a feed tube depending axially into the cone and rotatably mounted on the support, means to rotate the cone and feed tube, a pulp agitator on the feed tube in the cone, a valve-controlled discharge spout on the lower end of the cone, the feed tube terminating in the cone above said lower end of the latter, a hollow control rod depending through the feed tube and discharge spout, water discharge nozzles projecting from the rod below the tube, the valve of the discharge spout being mounted on and vertically adjustable by the rod, and means on the support vertically adjustably suspending the rod above the cones 2. A centrifuge, for processing ore pulp, comprising a support, an inverted cone rotatably mounted on the support, a feed tube depending axially into the cone and rotatably mounted on the support, a pulp working structure on the feed tube in the cone, a valve-controlled discharge spout on the lower end of the cone, the feed tube terminating in the cone above said lower end of the latter, a control rod depending through the feed tube and discharge spout, the valve of the latter being mounted on and vertically adjustable by the rod, means on the support vertically ad- 7 rod extending axially therethrough, and lifter paddles on the rod in said depending tube.

4. A device, as in claim 3, in which the control rod is mounted for rotation with the feed tube.

5. A centrifuge for processingore pulp, comprising a support, an inverted cone rotatably mounted on the support, a feed tube depending axially into the cone and rotatably mounted on the support, means to rotate the cone and tube at selected and relatively different speeds, the feed tube terminating at its lower end above the corresponding end of the cone, an adjustable discharge spout at the lower end of the cone including a vertically adjustable valve, a hollow control rod vertically adjustably suspended from the support and depending through the feed tube and cone to connection with said valve, Water discharge nozzles projecting from the rod below the feed tube, a spiral conveyor on the feed tube in the cone, and other adjustable spouts leading from the cone adjacent its upper end.

6. A centrifuge for processing ore pulp, comprising a support, an inverted cone rotatably mounted on the support, a feed tube depending axially into the cone and rotatably mounted on the support, the feed tube terminating at its lower end above the corresponding end of the cone,- an adjustable discharge spout at the lower end of the cone including a vertically adjustable valve, a control rod vertically adjustably suspended from the support and depending through the feed tube and cone to connection with said valve, a spiral conveyoron the feed tube in the cone, other adjustable spouts leading from the cone adjacent its upper end, and power means connected to the cone and feed tube to rotate the same at selectively relatively differential speeds; the control rod being hollow and mounted to rotate with the feed tube, jets on the hollow-rod below the feed tube, and means to feed a fluid to said hollow rod.

7. In a centrifuge which includes a rotary receptacle, a plurality of spouts leading from the receptacle adjacent its upper end, each such spout including an adjustment wheel exposed above the receptacle, means operative to rotate the receptacle, connections coupling all of said adjustment wheels for turning in unison and to the same extent, and means operative to so turn th adjustment wheels while the receptacle is rotating; the adjustment wheels being disposed to travel in the same circumferential path, and said last named means including a friction shoe unit having shoes on opposite sides of said path, and hand means operative to shift the shoe unit in or out to cause one shoe or the other to engage and turn said wheels as the same pass through the shoe unit.

LEWIS L. HUELSDONK.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 479,456 Peck July 26, 1892 681,271 Shue Aug. 27, 1901 775,320 VanKirk Nov. 22, 1904 901,056 Atkins Oct. 13, 1908 1,057,443 Miller Apr. 1, 1913 1,154,597 Ball Sept. 28, 1915 1,572,299 McEntire Feb. 9, 1926 1,933,644 Trump l Nov. 7, 1933 2,054,058 Laughlin Sept. 8, 1936 2,458,706 Howe Jan. 11, 1949 

